Welcome to the December 2004 edition of SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL e-zines - a continuing series of monthly newsletters created for the community of single adults who travel alone with kids.

To sign up for our newsletter go to
http://www.SingleParentTravel.net. Forward this newsletter to a friend!

In this issue:

I. GLOBAL BRENDA'S MESSAGE
II. SINGING "JINGLE BELLS" IN JAPANESE
III. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

I. GLOBALBRENDA'S MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

December's newsletter will be short (only 3 sections) as we are sending it out so close to the holidays. The main reason for the late posting is because I just returned from a winter hiking vacation to Utah (Zion, Bryce and Escalante), California's Death Valley National Park and ended it with two days of bright lights in Las Vegas. In the middle of the trip we went from snowflakes at dawn to sand dunes at sunset as we drove all day across Utah and Nevada to reach Death Valley by late afternoon. While in Las Vegas we saw the brand new show by Cirque du Soleil called KA! It was my first live Cirque du Soleil show and I intend to see as many others as I can. I will be writing about these places in a future newsletter.

It appears all my readers are busy getting ready for the holidays. No one was able to respond to my request for city activities at Christmas time. So, in light of the forthcoming holiday season, I thought readers would find interesting a single parent travel story I published in December 2001, about how a non-Christian country celebrates Christmas. Sounds like a contradiction in terms? Yes, but then Japan is a country full of contradictions. Enjoy the story and may you and all your loved ones have a wonderful and warm holiday together however you celebrate!

Happy Trails!
GlobalBrenda

II. SINGING "JINGLE BELLS" IN JAPANESE

It was an inauspicious beginning to our trip. After more than twenty hours of travel time my thirteen-year-old son and I arrived at Tokyo's Narita Airport in the early evening (Tokyo time). My daughter, having completed her fall semester at Temple University Tokyo, was supposed to be there to greet us. The three of us were to spend a week touring Japan followed by a week of sightseeing in Hong Kong. After waiting anxiously for twenty minutes, I left my young son with the luggage (I knew he was safe in Japan) and began scouring the length of the airport searching for my daughter. Although I am a confident world traveler, it is always disconcerting, after a long flight, to arrive in a country where you are completely and utterly illiterate. Other than the symbol for the Ladies Room, I was clueless concerning the signs posted around me, all in Japanese characters. My daughter was to be our interpreter. Where was she? Our travel plans had been carefully calculated and coordinated. My twenty-year-old daughter had proved to be a reliable and responsible person. What could have gone wrong? Was she all right? I hid my growing concern from my son as we continued to wait.

http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Writing/JingleBells.htm

III. SUBSCRIBERS SPEAK UP-REQUESTS, INQUIRIES, COMMENTS

AG writes:
I just read your newsletter and it is wonderful as always. However, what kinds of trips do you have for a single mom with 2 year old twins? Also, do you have any ideas on planning a trip to Legoland and San Diego Zoo? I live in Pennsylvania.

GlobalBrenda's response:
Which Legoland? I took my kids to the Legoland in Denmark, years ago, when they were very young. I will be happy to discuss that with you. I have visited the San Diego Zoo many times, once again, when my kids were younger. The San Diego Zoo and Animal Park is constantly improving. I recommend you first check their Web site:
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/
Then, if that does not give you enough information, I would call one of the local California travel agencies listed in my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook" that specialize in SP travel. Or call one of agencies listed in PA.

The trips offered by Single Parent Tours are for single parents and non-traditional families. The ages of the children range from infancy to grown-up. Every trip in the past 2 years has included a few infants or toddlers. You would fit right in. Check out the current tours on:
http://www.SingleParentTours.com
The upcoming Rocking Horse weekend would be perfect for you, however it sold out last week. We will be running 2 weekends in 2005 - April and November.

Christina writes:
Check out things in Las Vegas and find out why so much smoke!! I was there with a friend for a quick weekend getaway. Both of us new moms (1yr +) and we were dismayed by the amount of smoking allowed with children present in major casinos (NY, MGM, Venice, etc)! Thanks

GB responds:
Why is there smoke? That's easy. The emphasis is on gambling and making the gamblers feel comfortable so they will sit at the tables and the machines and continue to gamble. If they are smokers, they certainly do not want to have to leave the hotel or their gambling table to light up every time they want to smoke. The emphasis is not on children in the casinos, nor is it on a healthy environment. If you want those two items, you go to a national park.

About 5 to 7 years ago Las Vegas was promoting itself as a family destination. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Then about 2 yrs they did a complete about-face. Their slogan is now "What happens here, stays here.," a cheeky phrase designed to draw in the adult sophisticated crowd. Why the change in policy? Profit. After years of trying to draw in families, they found that families do not spend as much as couples and singles. They also found that the high rollers and big gamblers were not thrilled with kids running around all over the place. This is NOT what they went to Las Vegas for. Despite the new policy discouraging families, there are still lots of family attractions in Las Vegas, and they continue to grow. I wrote about this phenomenon in one of my newsletters about 6 months ago.

The one big change in Las Vegas now which is different from anything in the past, is that, now, for the first time in history, Las Vegas makes more money on hotels and food than on gambling. Ten or twenty years ago, everyone went to Vegas for the cheap hotel prices and cheap buffets. The idea was to draw you in and then have you gamble and that's were the profit was. No more. Although you can still find cheap hotel prices and cheap food buffets, many hotels off top-of-the line amenities with prices to match and expensive gourmet restaurants are popping up all over the place. Las Vegas has come of age as a resort destination.

Ellen Karine, age 35, from Norway writes:
I appreciate your help in finding company for traveling late February 2005. I would like to travel to some place warm and sunny with beaches to escape from the cold winter in the north. We have just returned from 1 month traveling in Florida which was beautiful and a good experience for both of us.

GB responds: Readers who want to correspond with Ellen may do so by contacting her directly via email: mirakool@hotmail.com

Betsy T. writes:
Do you have any ideas on places to go over the Christmas Holidays for single parents who are without their kids during this time. It's a bit of a dilemma because my ex-husband takes the children and my family does not celebrate Christmas. I'd like to go away ...do you know of any spots for people in this sort of situation?

GB responds:
Try New Orleans, the Maya Riviera or a national park. I have been to all these places by myself and had a wonderful time. I have written a little about these places on my Web site under destinations), however there is an extensive write up on these areas in my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook."

Barbara writes:
Love reading your monthly newsletters! I just ordered your book - a Christmas present to myself. I am interested in information about ski resorts in the East. Do you know of any that would be comfortable for a mother and her 9 YO son to visit during Christmas week? My son has taken a lesson and really loved it. I would be looking for a fun resort that would teach skiing and have tubing and/or sledding also.

I am also planning a trip to Alaska for my mother who will be 70 in May. What is the best time of year to go (when the whale watching would be best)? What cruise lines do you recommend? How much should I expect to spend per person? I have AA miles so hopefully airfare will be cheap. Thanks for any info you can offer and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

GB responds:
You have many questions here so I will address them one by one. First you should consult a travel professional for many of these questions. Since you have purchased my book, I recommend you contact of those listed in my book that specialize in single parent travel.

Now onto your email...
Ski resorts: There are so many ski resorts in the East that would be ideal for you and your son. I highly recommend the major resorts of Vermont - Mt. Snow, Killington, Sugarbush, Stowe. I am not sure which ones have tubing and sledding. There are resorts in the Catskills as well but I am not personally familiar with those. If it is within your budget, I also highly recommend the Laurentians in Canada. Mt. Tremblant is known for excellent ski instruction and there are many cozy resorts in the area.

To obtain specific information on these ski areas so you can determine which one is best for you, you should do the following:
1) Do a Web search and read the sites for each ski area.
2) Call a travel professional from the list in my book.
3) Contact your local ski shop. If you live in a region where you do not have skiing, then pick an area - Vermont for example, and look up ski shops in that area and get their opinion.

Regarding Alaska:
The best time to go to Alaska, if you want nice weather (and this is a relative term when you refer to Alaska) is July and August. Even in July you can get snow at higher elevations. You can go as early as May and as late as September but the weather will be cooler then - jacket weather, rather than a sweater or sweatshirt. For the best time to whale watch go to www.towd.com and click on the Alaska Tourist Bureau. If the information is not there, then call the tourist bureau.

Alaska is one of my featured destinations in my book. As you will read, I took my kids throughout the interior of Alaska by car, up above the Artic Circle, to Denali National Park and down through the Kenai Peninsula. The cruises go to an entirely different part of Alaska. You should talk to a travel professional about which cruise lines would be best for you and your mother. They will discuss prices with you as well. You have some great trips planned for the next year. Sounds exciting. Enjoy!